Posted on 12/21/2004 12:39:41 AM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Iranians Start Questioning Role Of Religion In Politics
December 20, 2004
Kuwait Times
Cyrus Khaki
Throughout history, it has been a frequent occurrence for countries to switch political systems, from feudal states to kingdoms and back again. It has been equally common for a country to change from a republic-based hierarchy, to the equally disputed democratic system. What is much more rare is for a nation to alter is approach to religion.
The history of the Middle East is in large part a patchwork quilt of religious conflicts, shifting dogmas and fracturing of religious systems. But once a nation defines itself by its religions, the definition often becomes set in stone and difficult to alter even from within. Such is the case in Iran today. While many in the country still adhere willingly to the strict Islamic rule, others are questioning the overwhelming role of religion in politics and daily life.
In a recent visit to Iran, I had the opportunity to ask people how they felt about the changes-and lack of changes-in the country they call home. I flew in from Kuwait with no idea of how much and how fast the country was changing and how opinions on the future direction of the country have become so hotly divided. During my visit, it became very apparent that despite the various strenuous sanctions against this country, the market has adapted well to the limited import allowances. Everywhere I looked I noted locally made goods, be it foodstuffs, home appliances, or even cars-despite recent laws that allow BMW cars to be imported with a 300 per cent import tax quota. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if there were ever a self-efficient country Iran would be it.
Weary public Nevertheless, the Iranian public is becoming weary. Everywhere I went I met people who were growing increasingly tired of the firebrand rhetoric and lack of substantive development coming from the government. Many openly condemned the current regime. "Much has changed since 1979," said A.M. who owns a grocery shop in northern Tehran. "I supported this regime back then because I was promised a better life. I was blind to the fact that my life was at the time at its highlight. Many people would agree to this.
Iran's revolution 25 years ago was one of a kind. It really was the first of its kind. Look at the world; everywhere you look, you'll see people revolting and rioting the streets because they are hungry, poor and dissatisfied with their living standards. But we had everything. We were better off then than we are now. Look at me; I used to own a men's clothing store, I used to walk around town advertising the best in men's fashion by wearing the most expensive suits and ties from my own shop. Now I'm here selling fruits and vegetables."
Through held-back tears before a man half his age, A.M. adds, "Iran's revolution was caused not by hunger; it was caused by the peoples' boredom and the abundance of everything." A.M. admitted that he was indeed one of the millions that went to the streets on the day of the revolution, Feb 11, 1979. He maintained however, that had he been given the chance to go back in time, he would not only stay home, but would condemn anyone he knew personally, had they shown a remote interest in supporting the overthrowing of the Shah's dynasty.
Living standards
While taking a drive through Iran's capital, I met another man who also expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling mullahs. He stated that he's been a taxi driver for more than 35 years, but never did he expect living standards to hit rock bottom, as that they have in recent years. He made clear that he is a firm believer of the Islamic doctrine, but is furious at how it is "forced" under the rule of this government.
The 50-year-old taxi driver, M.Q. said, "Back in the day, you could go to a park, and you'd find a drunk man and a Muslim veiled woman sharing the same bench to admire the scenery; neither of them bothered with what the other is doing. But look at us today! We've been reduced to the point where our 5,000 year heritage is being questioned by clerics who want to take away the little bit of pride that remains for us." During the long drive, he made references to today's youth and how they've been led astray by greed and money. His reasoning for this relates to the poverty that has overtaken the country since the revolution.
"Girls used to have dignity, they used to be proud. Now all they want is a rich man to spoil them, and they aren't ashamed to admit it. I remember a neighbour of ours had had a man come and ask for his daughter's hand around 30 years ago, if I'm not mistaken about the year. The groom-to-be was very wealthy; so wealthy in fact, that everyone in the neighbourhood knew that he owned hotels and restaurants abroad. As I recall, my neighbour rejected to marry his daughter off to him, saying that his daughter wasn't livestock, and that even when buying cattle a man should spend more time admiring and analysing it. This is the demise of our people. Today, that very same family is giving away its grand daughters to foreign visitors who want 'temporary marriages,'" added M.Q.
Nevertheless, Iran is a country torn between two ideals. During my visit, I noted that there are those who hold a firm belief in the Islamic traditions; then there are those who ignore it completely, if not for the forced way with which it is implemented then because of the substantial economic hardships this government has brought with it.
Split ideals
Walking in the streets, one can see the split ideals. It is really disconcerting to see a segregated people who are so different and yet so similar in their passion for what they believe. On the one hand there are the Islamists, and on the other you have the liberals. Both are plentiful to the average person strolling the streets of Tehran, although statistics tell a different story. Of the approximate 66 million people in Iran, some 70 per cent are supposed to be under the age of 30. This has different implications for different censuring agencies. Some would argue that 70 per cent of the population have been brought up under this regime and therefore are more grounded in their Islamic beliefs, while others would counter by claiming that the 70 per cent have witnessed the atrocities brought unto them and therefore are more likely to make a stand to oust this regime.
What is apparent though, is that both 'parties' are becoming more and more enraged as the other begins voicing its beliefs more stridently. But as a famous Iranian poet once said, "it is the silent that shall sneak past the blockade, not the violent horde that try to force their way through."
The supporters of this regime try to silence the liberals by protesting in the streets and making themselves heard as the voice of the majority. And indeed, many can feel their aspirations wholeheartedly, as this is their religion they are trying to maintain and the very reason why some of them are still pushing through the life that has been thrown at them. "I will not let a bunch of young kids who don't know what's good for them take away what the Prophet gave us 2,000 years ago!" said F. H, a woman in her mid 30s, who took part in a recent demonstration in Tehran, supporting the Islamic Republic's government.
Undeniably, the liberals are silenced. But in their silence they are hopeful as they wait. S. A. a resolved liberal says, "He will return. Everyone knows this. The Shah will return, and with his return everything will change. This is why the fundamentalists are weary. This is why recently they have been trying extra hard to show the world that they are the people. But the truth cannot be hidden, the world will see. Long live the King and his kingdom that awaits him."
Iran Readies Uranium for Nuke Enrichment --Diplomats
Reuters
Dec 21, 2004 — VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran will continue preparing raw "yellowcake" uranium for enrichment, a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons, until the end of February, despite a recent pledge to freeze all such activity, diplomats said.
"The Iranians have decided to continue UF4 (uranium tetrafluoride) production until the end of February," a diplomat told Reuters. Two other diplomats in Vienna, where the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is based, confirmed the report.
UF4 is the precursor to uranium hexafluoride (UF6), the gas that is fed into centrifuges which spin at supersonic speeds to purify it for use as fuel in civilian nuclear power plants or in atomic weapons. Iran recently pledged to freeze all activities linked to uranium enrichment as a confidence-building gesture.
The United States accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program, a charge Iran denies. Washington has also told the European Union's "big three" — France, Britain and Germany — that Tehran has no intention of honoring its pledge to freeze enrichment work.
In September, Iran announced it would process 37 tonnes of yellowcake for enrichment, an amount that nuclear experts said could yield enough material for up to five weapons if it was later enriched to weapons-grade purity.
When Iran made the suspension pledge to the EU big three last month, it agreed not to convert any uranium that was not already inside the conversion facility. However, Tehran changed its plan and decided that none of the 37 tonnes of uranium would be left in raw yellowcake form, the diplomats said.
"This goes beyond the agreement to only convert what was absolutely necessary," one diplomat said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Hossein Mousavian, Iran's chief delegate to the IAEA, told the official IRNA news agency that it was natural for Iran to continue with its nuclear program.
"It is natural that the Islamic Republic continues all its nuclear activities. Iran has only suspended the fuel cycle voluntarily in the framework of its policy to build trust without any legal obligations," he said.
DoctorZin Note: This referendum proposal is dividing the Iranian expatriate community. Please also see 70000000.com
We Support Democracy in Iran
December 21, 2004
Iran va Jahan
Foad Pashaie and Pooya Dayanim
Today the authors and the organizations they represent will lend our collective credibility and political weight to an appeal that calls for a national referendum in Iran under international supervision to draft a new constitution and adopt a new system of government that is in compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all its associated covenants by adding our signatures to this appeal
The appeal for a national referendum has won support from almost all strands of the political spectrum. The signatories to the appeal include intellectuals, clerics, students, liberals, republicans, those who seek reform of the current Islamic Republic, and supporters of a constitutional monarchy. The referendum was drafted in vague terms on purpose to win the support of the various groups. The appeal has also been signed by some controversial figures, including a founding member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Several genuine leaders of the monarchist, nationalist, and student movements have boycotted this call for a national referendum. They correctly point out that several of the signatories to the appeal are individuals who supported the Islamic Republic early in its inception or continued to support the regime as so-called "reformers," who wanted to reform the system under Khatami to save it. They see this idea of a referendum as another trick by the regime's propaganda machine to buy themselves time, just like they did when Khatami was elected president in 1997. They do not want the opposition or opposition figures to be tainted by signing onto the same appeal that bears the signatures of these figures.
To us, however, the terms of the call for the referendum are clear. The referendum calls for a new constitution and a new system of government. We view and interpret this language to mean one thing and one thing only: an end to the Islamic Republic of Iran. This interpretation is shared by the overwhelming number of the other signatories to this national appeal. It is under this interpretation that we are signing this appeal and lend our weight and credibility to it.
We will not allow this national movement to attempt to peacefully change the regime to be hijacked by the regime itself. Nor should the call for a national referendum be boycotted because of the signatures of several controversial characters. The people of Iran, once they are free, will decide what to with these figures. To change the regime in Iran, we have to allow those who initially supported the Islamic Republic (there were many) who have now been disillusioned by the regime to also participate in an attempt to bring about its demise.
We are not naive and are under no illusion that the Islamic Regime will accept the referendum or its results. However, we believe, that it is appropriate to support peaceful means of political expression such as a call for a national referendum.
Our support of a referendum is to spur and continue a debate on the future of Iran. Our support for a referendum will not divert us from other actions that must be taken in the months that lie ahead such as a call for the Iranian people to boycott the upcoming sham presidential elections in Iran in May of 2005 to show the whole world the illegitimacy of the Islamic Regime.
We also wish to make it clear that if the will of the overwhelming majority of the Iranian people to have a different system of government is not honored, we will support (as we have in the past) other means of political expression such as: peaceful civil disobedience; marches and protests; and strikes by students, laborers and other social groups.
We, along with the rest of the pro-democracy movement, support President Bush's vision of a democratic Middle East. In return, we wish to have the president's support for a free and democratic Iran. The president, however, has been quite quiet as of late. What we want from the Bush administration and Congress are not words but action. The Bush administration must engage Iran's pro-democracy movement and support those who are fighting for a free and democratic Iran. A genuine support of the Iran pro-democracy movement in all its permutations (students, political prisoners, journalists, religious freedom and human rights supporters, women's rights activists, etc.) is the only legitimate Iran policy that can be adopted by this administration.
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Foad Pashaie is the Secretary General of the Constitutionalist Party of Iran, the largest political party outside of Iran. Pooya Dayanim is the President of the US-based Iranian Jewish Public Affairs Committee (IJPAC). The views expressed in this article are solely those of its authors and not necessarily of the respective institutions that they represent.
The reason that Iran is happy about the US "wanting talks" is that to Islam, only the loosing side wants to talk. This is a way for the leadership of Iran to brag they are winning the war.
I remember when the Russians wanted to talk to the Islamic fundamental rulers that were running the country when they took over the Russian Embassy. The Russian ultimatum was delivered and a retreat of the embassy was swift.
You don't know what you're talking about. Don't repeat lines that the liberal-infested MSM has fed you for the past 25 years about the Shah of Iran. They did an excellent job of character assassination that advanced the scheming machinations of Brzezinski - remember him? Carter's infamous NSA. - who hated the Shah and overtly supported Khomeini until things turned ugly, and he and his boss were forced out of office as well, but the horrendous mess that they left in Iran is still with us ALL to deal with to this day.
Depends on the form of Monarchy. England, Japan, Spain are all Monarchies with an elected Prime Minister. Therefore, a Constitutional Monarchy with an elected Prime Minister or President with the power would be ideal.
As to your statement, "Iran needs a democracy, not some crazed monarchy",
1. Althoug Iran has had its share of crazed monarchs, the Pahlavi dynasties - both father and son - were no crazed kings. They were moving the country in the right direction when they were, BOTH, stopped short prematurely. Iran at the time of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a peaceful, stable, prosperous country in the middle of a region in havoc.
2. Crazed leaders can pop their heads up in any country of the world, under every possible system of governance. I recall a few of them right here in our republic.
3. Iran sure needs a democracy. To be sure Iran was/is/ and probably never will be a Great Britain, or maybe even a Spain - both democracies and monarchists - and it will never be a France or a United States - both republics. But we might be able to pull off a Japan perhaps - a monarchy which was preserved by the foresight of the US generals and the adminstration after complete destruction of the country in WWII - which is democratic, and has preserved its historical heritage and culture of monarchy.
As to your statement, "Iran needs a democracy, not some crazed monarchy",
1. Althoug Iran has had its share of crazed monarchs, the Pahlavi dynasties - both father and son - were no crazed kings. They were moving the country in the right direction when they were, BOTH, stopped short prematurely. Iran at the time of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a peaceful, stable, prosperous country in the middle of a region in havoc.
2. Crazed leaders can pop their heads up in any country of the world, under every possible system of governance. I recall a few of them right here in our republic.
3. Iran sure needs a democracy. To be sure Iran was/is/ and probably never will be a Great Britain, or maybe even a Spain - both democracies and monarchists - and it will never be a France or a United States - both republics. But we might be able to pull off a Japan perhaps - a monarchy which was preserved by the foresight of the US generals and the adminstration after complete destruction of the country in WWII - which is democratic, and has preserved its historical heritage and culture of monarchy.
DoctorZin: The Mullahs are scheduled to stone another young woman today. See post # 6. The regime know how to create fear in the people of Iran.
The endless decadent ruling classes of Europe are part of their problems, not part of their solutions. Let the Iranians have elections and some decent leadership.
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